
Q/'/frt/. _ _ ^Z^U^ . '.^^yc^£^C^. CJ%?:CC/-i^, 



WITH THE AUTHOR'S REGARDS. 



June 19th, 1331. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.' 
lhap. lE&AlLL 

SAe// . 3UL— - 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



!v 






PROGRESS: 



LOCA.L POEM, 



BY 




JOSEPH "W. BOBBINS. 



READ BEFORE THE 



ROXBURY MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, 



TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. 19, 1861. 



T5 2T ? 



EXCULPATION. 

"What egotism to commit it to print " ? The author con- 
curs with this criticism of his auditory. " Fudge ! "why then 
was it done, and what the plea ? " He also admits the appa- 
rent inconsistency and boldness, but would remark, in extenua- 
tion, that more friends having solicited a perusal of the man- 
uscript than he could well gratify, and not a few requesting 
its present appearance, he has deemed it better to stand 
charged with vanity, than be considered as disobliging. 

"Shows errors of all kinds, but no copy-right, and not 
worth one," says the critic ? What other book is without 
them? 

This reflection, with the probability that he made his own 
copy-right, will be some consolation to the writer, who only 
designs the private distribution to a few friends. 

He makes no claim to literary composition — prose or 
rhyme — but confesses his deficiencies therein, as also that 
other requisites than rhyming are needed in this, to justify the 
high sounding title of " poem." 

Roxburt, April 19, 1-S6L 



PEOGEESS : A LOCAL POEM. 



" ProgpvEss. :; I've chosen to-night for a theme, 
Though brief is the time for more than a gleam 
( tf light from the past, a glimpse at to-day, 
Attempting naught of prospective array. 
The subject is broad, and savors of age, 
But each passing day, recording its page, 
Makes it familiar: though oft the possession 
Of short-sighted views deems change a progression. 
Yet closely allied are these Yankee traits, — 
Change often suggestive, while progression waits. 
No paradox that, and all are agreed, 
( >f progress there r s none, sometimes, in great speed 
That going it fast, and that while we are young. 
Is •■ haste making waste,'' an adage long sung. 
While impulsive change, in dashing around, 
Experience gains, but loses much ground. 
Progression — waiting, thinking, maturing — 
Moves when it 's ready, success insuring. 
If. priding ourselves that this age of ours 
Excels all the past in progressive powers, — 
That it has done all in that which has brought 
Present appliance of action and thought, — ■ 
Forgetting the debt we owe to that cast 



6 PROGRESS. 

Of forethought and skill displayed in the past, 
Which wrought in the chain that 's destined to bind 
The present and past with future mankind, — 
We greatly mistake : — our ancestors' art, 
Time, labor and cash, contributed part ; 
Made easy our path, prepared the rough way 
(So hard to commence), left much that to-day 
Adds comfort to life, conveniences, health ; 
Diminishes toil, gives luxuries, wealth. 

Was Solomon wrong — (Ecclesiastes text, 

See chapter the first, verse ninth and two next) — 

Proclaiming naught new then under the sun, 

And never would be, for all time to run ? 

Did Solomon mean to be understood 

As literal in speech, or joking in mood? 

Although to fancy I at times appeal, 

Yet most with facts is what I have to deal. 

In sixteen thirty, — so historians say,— - 

Came English hither, in the month of May. 

Then wigwams stood where now our mansions stand 

And normal was the race that owned the land. 

The native red man naught of luxury knew, — • 

His wants were simple, and their number few. 

Contented native to "the manor born," 

Till strangers came and made his home forlorn. 

His bow and arrows, with his horse and lance, 

His hostile forays, and the war-path dance, 



PROGRESS. / 

His club and hatchet, and his scalping trait, 

His prisoner's torments at the burning stake, 

Were savage joys to the untutored child 

Of nature's rearing, with his passions wild. 

Vindictive, cruel, he '11 compare, I trow, 

Full well with Christians, in their warfare now. 

His pastimes, pleasures, and his peaceful ways, 

As mod'rate were, as these our later days. 

On " Tremont Road," his prize, the horseman drew> 

Paddled on " Conant's Pond " his light canoe. 

In summer, there he bathed his noble limbs, 

Where winter sees how swift our skater skims. 

Here Indians, hunting, brought wild game for food; 

Here dusky, loving maidens blushed when wooed. 

Here too the wedding; but the coming morn 

Found Madame working in the field of corn. 

Ungallant fellows, given to war and play, 

Bad were such customs, so our ladies say. 

Here too they worshipped, the Great Spirit sued, 

With superstition, fear and love imbued. 

Knew their dependence on an unseen hand, 

Thought immortality a hunting land, 

A prize reserved, fit tribute to the brave, 

Elysian fields of bliss beyond the grave. 

Their savage nature ne'er a foe forgot, 

An object given, nor a kindness wrought. 

Their native shrewdness, in a forest new, 

The route discerning:, with an instinct true. 



5 PROGRESS. 

Where'er their wanderings thro' its devious ways, 
Excites our wonder, and our thoughts amaze. 
The heavens a quadrant, — for a compass, trees; 
Magnetic needles, barks, of safety these. 
Their speed, endurance, now would claim the most 
Of all Belles^ Lettres, as the ''penny-post." 

On yonder corner, where folks drugs compound, 

The Indian doctor of the tribe was found. 

Marauding bands, who lost their scalps in fight, 

There found relief: to them a great delight. 

He, scalp and tuft restored at trifling cost, 

With little pain — but now the secret 's lost. 

Where slipp'ry Elm street now runs o'er the hill, 

From slipp'ry elm an oil he did distil. 

Skilled in the herbs that grew on " Tommy's Rock," 

He drew their virtues from the parent stock. 

O'er all the " Highlands," ranged his steps and sought 

For berries ripe, and to his cabin brought. 

E'en fresh "Grab Village" struck his piercing gaze, 

And paid his visit with the yellow maize. 

(This was before our city made the "park" 

Which sixty thousand dollars cost; but, hark!) 

Sweet scented flowers graced "Pine Island" fair, 

But left no odors which to-day are there. 

Old cycle Time with sickle cuts down all, 

But spared long while " Chickatabvt" his fall. 

He left the whites, wherewith to cure their ills, 

New England Indian Vegetable Pills. 



PROGRESS. y 

Stands Soren's Hall where soaring eagles screamed, 

Rest fashion's hoops where war-whoops often teemed : 

Where now our "Norfolk" rears its stately head, 

The wearied warrior found both food and bed. 

Our council chamber has its council fires, 

But how unlike to those of Indian sires ! 

Then warriors met, besmeared with paint and grease: 

But, war at end, there curled the smoke of peace. 

Choice brand they used, an influence to invoke: 

A new leaf turned, the " board "adjourned in smoke. 

No wampum voted for the public cause, 

Xo debts created — had but nature's laws. 

The odd squaw Nancy, as their chiefest shrew, 

Was the only o(r)'i'nance their code e'er knew. 

Where now the - ; turnpike " runs its moveless march. 

Kind nature gave her sons the forest arch. 

Around were flowing brooks and fields of green, 

With rugged hills and rocks to intervene. 

The famed " Cow-culvert " had not reared its head 

Above the limpid stream which there is led. 

In sixteen thirty-two, did Eliot preach 

Where Doctor Putnam now his flock does teach : 

The seventh successor in the learned line 

Of goodly pastors, pious and divine; 

Expounders of the holy word and law, [draw. 

Seeking towards heaven, our hearts and minds to 



10 PROGRESS. 

In sixteen forty-jive, the town began 

The youth to educate, on the free-school plan : 

Important step, that thus the basis laid 

Of that great work which since such strides has made. 

Now, public schools (some six and forty) share 

The people's funds, time, love, and teachers' care. 

" 'Tis education forms the common mind; 

Just as the twig is bent the tree 's inclined." 

(These two brief lines you '11 recognize, I hope, 

As long since written by your favorite, Pope,) 

Great source of knowledge, thou shalt ever be 

Companion, guide, and help to liberty. 

Morals and virtue, and true happiness, 

Smile at thy progress, and thy coming bless. 

Co-worker with religion pure, thou art 

The strength and joy, the life of mind and heart. 

Man's civilizer, and a nation's prop. 

O, may thy onward progress never stop ! 

In March, that year, a devastating fire 
Burnt much of " Roxbury street," but not entire. 
Dark day for " Roxbury," though the element 
Of fire raged fiercely, on destruction bent. 
John Johnson's mansion was the first to go, — 
The first deserted, as all chanced to know 
The powder magazine was stored within, 
Which soon exploded with portentous din. 



PROGRESS. 11 

Meanwhile the neighb'ring buildings took the flame, 

Ere yet the frightened folks returning came. 

The fire raged fiercely, with a dreadful power, 

At one time threat'ning 't would the town devour; 

Which being at that time both young and small, 

The prospect did the people's hearts appal. 

But God was gracious : with mysterious sway, 

He the fierce winds changed to another way, 

Their strength decreasing ; and the people viewed 

His guardian care, in fiery flames subdued. 

Anon came " fire- wards/' forcing all to stand, 

And pass the buckets through the lines by hand. 

Unlucky was the wight caught looking on 

A fire's display! quick in the ranks he 's drawn 

To pass the water, quench the raging fire; 

Bad health was no excuse, nor best attire. 

Thus forced, he worked, as long as nature held : 

But once resisting, to the ground was felled. 

Such were those days, ere Hunneman made known 

His skill in engines, and their power had shown. 

No "Button tub," with "Warren's" number one. 

Who duty never leave, till duty 's done ; 

No number two, "America," our pride, 

Had thrown one hundred eighty feet of tide ; 

No handsome house, with "Torrent " number six, 

A high-cost structure, and of best "faced bricks," 

With noble engine, and with men of skill, 

To quench a fire, or yet a rival fill ; 



12 PROGRESS. 

No " Tremont" seven, with faithful men of force. 
Ne'er " compromise "with fire, but fire coerce ; 
No "Hook and Ladder" force, at hand, had they, 
Up which "Cochituate" men their hose convey; 
No '-'Dearborn" steamers, carrying fire to fire, 
Advancing quick, to make the worst retire. 
Huge iron bodies, and with lungs of steel, 
They work incessant, but no labors feel. 
Unlike the other "tubs" in many traits, [br(e)aks. 
They 're sometimes like them, when they have their 
Appliances like these were then too few, 
But time has brought about progression true. 

'T is common for our aged friends to say 

We " milder winters have than in their day. 7 ' 

"When they were young, they saw with children's eyes, 

Which magnified, and there the secret lies. 

A twelve-inch bank of snow the adult deems 

To be one foot, while to the child it seems 

As twice that height — his reason giving way 

To optics' fancies, and delusive sway. 

In sixteen forty-six. the winter through 

The mildest was that Roxbury ever knew : 

No weather sharp, no snow the people had, 

And not one Sunday that the day was bad. 

Remember that, whene'er you think so strange 

'Bout climate's changing, or our seasons changed. 



PROGRESS. 13 

Now, those with us, who ? d think such winters fair, 

Will think we have not made much progress there. 

Howe ? er that is, I think progression J s found 

In discontinued earthquakes 7 frightful sound. 

In sixty-three and jive , an earthquake's shock 

Our mother earth disturbed — hill, plain and rock. 

The opening of earth's mighty, ponderous jaws, 

The fuss internal, with no outward cause, 

Make folks imagine that volcanoes boil 

Their red-hot lava underneath the soil, 

To throw, like iEtna, a secreted pus, 

Creating havoc like Vesuvius. 

Such threatened chaos of all nature's. laws 

The mind confuses and the bravest awes. 

How thankful all were, how great the event, 

When good quakers came and earthquakers went ! 

In sixteen forty -seven, the town affairs 
Were managed by five " selectmen " of cares;— 
The purest form still used in our State bounds, I 
Simple and cheap, and popular with towns. 

In sixteen fifty -three, the people made 
A license law applied to c; liquor" trade,— 
A special one, for which John Gorton paid, 
And Robert Pepper, that the two might trade 
In cakes and white bread, with the right tQ brew 
Good " penny beare,*' and right to sell it, too. 



14 PROGRESS. 

An old directory, which I once did meet, 

Said both those worthies kept on i?ar-tlett street. 

That was an error — says a friend of mine — 

The " Brewer's bake-house " stood close by" the line." 

In sixteen sixty-six, the first town-clerk 

Commenced his labors. The increase of work 

In that department, as it now appears, 

Shows Roxbury's progress in two hundred years. 

Our faithful clerk illustrates, in a word, 

The truth, " the pen is mightier than the sword." 

In sixteen sixty-six, a prize was paid 
To Crafts and Seaver, for a wolf they slayed. 
The frightful beast they met in Haskins' wood, 
Where they were strolling in reflective mood ; — 
The gents reflecting — not the savage beast, 
Which there was seeking for a sheepish feast. 
Now, children play there, and their picnics hold 
In safety, lambkins from their shepherds' fold. 
To show the young idea how best to shoot — 
Not wolves — but upwards, and well down in root, 
Our present Crafts and Seaver — worthy firm — 
In school committee work term after term, 
Out from our midst wolf ignorance to drive, 
That children in our city's fold may thrive. 
Long sail their craft o'er life's tempest'ous ways, 
Long be re-cEivERs of the people's praise ! 



PROGRESS. 



15 



An Indian, in sixteen seventy-one, 
Was executed, for a murder done ; — 
A punishment in use the present day, 
For those who wickedly take life away. 

In sixteen ninety, in the month of May, 

(The records have it as the twentieth day), 

That pure apostle, and the Christian's pride, 

John Eliot, the pious preacher, died. 

His years, fourscore and six, were virtue's years, 

To good devoted, which his name endears : 

The Indian's friend, and the white man's guide, 

He, to mankind, a brother's place supplied ; 

Great charity dispensed with liberal hands: 

He lived and died near where Guild Hall now stands. 

The people treasure well his honored name, 

His life of goodness, his undying fame. 

The Representatives of the town that year 

Did all, as now, in " General Court" appear. 

The rzQ,om-pense, unlike the present pay, 

Was eighteen pence, in cash or corn, per day. 

If com they took, and with it bought a meal 

Or sev'ral "drinks," and then were corned, they'd feel 

That making progress in that ancient way 

Was quite unlike three dollars cash per day. 

E'en in those days all were not free from guilt, [built: 

And hence a "watch-house" was on "Town street" 



16 PROGRESS. 

Not that which now is under City Hall, 

But "Roxbury street," which Washington we call ; 

To take the place of one which they called " old," 

But when the fast was built, we are not told ; 

Nor yet if "Reps," of whom, before I spoke, 

Found themselves there, when in the morn they woke. 

Now, our best "Watch^House" is in Soren's Block. 

Sign number one, the illuminated clock. 

Call on Carruthers, with your watches prime, 

But pay him cash — " he takes no note of time." 

Receive his cards — for, be it understood, 

He " shows his hands " all for the public good. 

One hundred years, or more, fled on apace, 
And Roxbury grew in people and in grace. 
Gone was the Indian, with his savage strife, 
His ways untutored, and unsocial life. 
Mark how progression, with her stern behest, 
The tribes had pushed to the untrodden West. 
Here, where they roamed, her genius had command, 
And wonderful the change o'er allthe land. 
Few were the towns which with it could compare 
In natural beauties,* or salubrious air. 
Prolific nature gave a charming grace, 
And rarest landscapes, to this: favored place. 
With hills and valleys, with broad plains and ponds, 
With purest streamlets, woods and rocky bonds. 
AVhile "distance lent enchantment to the view," 
A close approach would lend and give it too. 



PROGRESS. 1/ 

Man, as an agent to the higher power, 

Lent his assistance in his prosperous hour; 

He tilled the lands, from which the sun and rains 

Brought forth rich harvests of the golden grains ; 

Pomona fair, her bounties spread around, 

And horticulture filled the garden ground ; 

Sweet, modest Flora, in her best attire, 

Was wooed and won, for love she did inspire ; 

In simple costume, or in proud array, 

Her charmed admirers always owned her sway. 

Commodious mansions, or the simple cot, 

Broad grounds commanded, or the humble lot ; 

The trellised woodbine, and the spacious lawn, 

The noble grove, all did the place adorn ; 

Outstanding barns, and granaries well filled, 

Spoke providential help, and lands well tilled. 

The farmer's herds, they grazed in sweetest fields, 

And gave the bounty which good treatment yields. 

Internal peace, with labor, joined her hands, 

And general plenty smiled on Christian lands. 

As time progressed, man's wants increased ; but skill 

With art and genius came, those wants to fill. 

Across the place fine avenues were made, 

Connecting town with town, for pleasure and for trade: 

Man being lonely, with no neighbor true — 

(My good term "man" embraces woman too.) 

The horse and ox, obedient to man's law, 

Engaged in usefulness> and not in war, 2 



1 v PROGRESS. 

And now e'en artists deem them good to "draw" — 

A use for them which Indians never saw. 

On "Stony River*' long had stood "Waitt's mill," 

Which, though 'twas always "going," stood there still: 

Its busy hum of industry was heard, 

And in the hearts of men ambition stirred. 

Machinery came like magic, saving toil 

Within the workman's shop, and on the soil. 

The useful artisan soon business found, 

And lawyers — - sheriffs even — gathered 'round. 

The varied callings of the tradesman, here 

Remuneration found, from year to year. 

Anon came dentists — for, this sun beneath. 

There J s naught degenerated like the teeth. 

Perhaps 't is so, that dentists may progress 

In counterfeiting, and our purse assess. 

Wig-makers had not here set up their trade, 

Though patronized close by, I am afraid. 

In course of time, as luxuries increased, 

E'en new diseases came to man and beast: 

Diptheria, and many others bad, 

Pneumonia, which divers cattle had, 

Until the commonwealth its funds did pour, 

When the disease, thus cured, was known no more. 

If foreign commerce does our port evade, 

Our Roxbury boys keep up the coasting trade ; 



PROGRESS. 19 

The lads find progress on the " double runner/' 
Which modern youth now term a " perfect stunner." 
u Contusion hazarding of neck and spine, 
Which " city urchins all "call sport divine.*' 

Progression's march enlisted in her cause 

Religion, liberty, protective laws. 

The first church built (a building poor) stood where 

The spacious church now faces Eliot square. 

No decent barn now stands within our space. 

But is superior to that wretched place. 

No shingles were without — it had no spire : 

No plaster was within, nor e'en a fire; 

No galleries had it, but, as history shews, 

Had hard wood benches in the place of pews : 

No lady's foot-stove then did warm her feet, 

Nor those huge stoves which now our churches heat : 

No coal was used, no furnaces were there, 

Nor iron steam-pipes, warming well the air : 

No choir was hired, bestowed in organ loft, 

Employed to praise their God in music soft: 

But from their hearts all worshipped and adored. — 

Each sang His praise, nor criticised the chord : 

No cushioned seats, nor floors with carpets on; 

On evening meetings, then, no gas-lights shone; 

The sexes were arranged on either side, 

And went to worship, not to show their pride. 



20 PROGRESS. 

In eighteen twenty \ near where flowed u Smelt Brook,' y 

Our Universalist friends their church tot took. 

That church was second — if the record ? s true, — 

Its pastor now J. G. Bartholomew. 

The third convened in eighteen twenty-one, — 

Its present pastor T. D. Anderson. 

To-day twelve churches and twelve pastors here 

Bespeak our progress, and our Christians cheer. 

On Sabbath morn, how sweetly sound the bells, 

To church inviting, while their music swells 

Upon the air and ear, o'er hills and dells, 

And to earth's wearied ones its cadence tells 

Of heaven to come, of Christians future blest, 

'Mid choirs angelic, and eternal rest ! 

As man progressed in good, the devil too 
Thought it high time to see what he could do ; 
Advanced his plans, and promised, with his smiles, 
Rewards to those entrapped within his wiles. 
His victims have, e'en since the days of Eve, 
Been " gulled " by him, and still he does deceive. 
Hence jails were needed, and the gallows high, 
To frighten rogues with thought of justice nigh. 
But let us hope, faith, charity and love, 
Have headway gained, by influence from above. 
How oft young men now stand on ruin's brink, 
Because they gamble, and because they " drink " ! 
Opium they eat — cigars few e'er refuse^ — 



PROGRESS. 21 

And rare to find the man who never " chews." 
These tastes present " progression " quite asleep : 
But, let us trust, some day awake she '11 keep. 

"Young America" glances down time's track, 
Thinks of Roxbury times, when old ' ; Spurr's hack " 
Journeyed to Boston but twice in a week, — 
A " quarter" each way, the fare, "so to speak" ; 
Next journeyed to Boston twice in a day, 
Rising eighteen cents the very low pay: — 
So his father said, for he scarcely looks 
Coeval in age with long "Governor Brooks." 
No mammon is meant, nor yet running stream, 
But an omnibus drawn by a quadruple team, 
Which, most of us here remember, no doubt, 
Carried huge freights of folks, both inside and out. 
On a long flight of steps, awaiting command, 
A small urchin stood, bell ready in hand, 
To bellow your wish to Jehu away 
Ahead, far in front, his progress to stay. 
As progress advanced, he retired, forsooth. 
Yielding to "blackstrap " his spirit of youth. 
That strap was designed — so thought not a few - 
To test people's strength, because, if they drew 
The driver within, they therefore must needs 
Have control over him, and over his steeds. 

As then, so they now cause drivers to swear, 

« 

To pro-gress in sin, moral prog-ress iarpair. 



22 PROGRESS. 

Conductors, they often conducted as now, 
Pay wanting of all, buj; " dead-heads," I trow. 
Then too was demanded, and cheerfully paid, 
The revenue to the King of the trade. 
Horace's long coaches long carried " the crowd" ; 
He claimed your support — his claims were allowed. 
Public-spirited man, industrious host, 
We truly regret his life earnings lost ! 
Conductors now, after taking the pay, 
Conduct us way through, not leave on the way. 
Then, stopping at 6I Clapp's," half way to the "line," 
They toasted their toes, and toasted with wine. 
Yet they 're apt to think that progress is far 
Ahead, in changing from coach to the car. 
Like "parties" to-day, they now and then will 
Wish 'platforms to leave, and stop at Cornhill, 
Or Washington street, where, in the times sped. 
The drivers long tarried, were warmed and were fed. 
Long coaches withdrew, and short ones were placed 
On the route which erst the long " President" graced. 
Fourteen in a coach, with knee touching knee, 
Six standing between, you scarcely breathe free; 
But if a wet rain has drenched well their clothes, 
In summer you 're steamed, in winter you 're froze. 
Oft enters the man, who carries, so calm, 
His cane horizontal under his arm; 
In contact it comes with eye or with nose, — ■ 
He turns to regret, and treads on your toes. 



PROGRESS. '±Y> 

If troubled with corns, or pestered with gout, 
A gentleman swears, a lady will pout, 
Or sputter, perchance, as gentlemen " wheeze, 7 ' 
"When a window she opes, admitting the breeze, — 
Habit quite common with most of the fair, 
Giving us colds, by the draft of cold air. 

All hail the good day the horse railroad track, 

From theory, came to be matter of fact ! 

How great was the step, the distance how far, 

How good was the change from the coach to the car. 

Has lately been felt, o'er the " cradle-hole" jars 

On Washington street, while absent the cars. 

How spacious within ! to enter, how nice ! 

How smoothly they glide ! how cheap is the price ! 

What safety is felt, what comfort, what space ! 

How cleanly within ! there : s always a place 

To sit or to stand, in posture upright, 

For the number designed, at morn or at night. 

Young ladies, sixteen, — just eight on a side, — 

Or forty young gents, in comfort can ride. 

Tar, feathers and rails, obnoxious of old, 

Are popular words in this age of gold. 

Our rails help our progress, and do not jeiard 

The transfer of stock to cash that is hard ; 

And while the folks like the cars as they do, 

Stockholders will "feather their nests," it is true. 



24 PROGRESS. 

In eighteen forty-six, was voted down 
The good old patronymic, Roxbury town. 
Eight hundred thirty-six good votes said yea, 
One hundred ninety-two, as good, said nay. 
Sire stood before the world a City new, 
And soon ber comforts and her taxes grew. 
These last our faithful treasurer now deems 
His special province; and to us it seems 
A great delight to have his name appear 
Signed to our city bills that come each year. 
Our progress in this world of wealth and care 
Is shown when year by year his books compare. 

Three southern wards, with part of four and five, 

Seceded from the rest, alone to thrive, 

In eighteen fifty -one, with State House aid so near, 

Where we see session once in every year. 

Ere that, the largest city on the earth, 

In land, was that of Joseph Warren's birth. 

Coercion was not seen, though many a frown, 

At the State's progression, which thus gained a town. 

Of man's progression, -evidence we see 

Where'er we turn our glance on land or sea ; 

The arts and sciences and nature's laws 

Are more familiar, both effect and cause; 

The house we live in — sinews, flesh and blood — 

Is better known, is better understood ; 

At least in Roxbury, such is now the case, 

Compared with -sixteen thirty, and the Indian race. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



Though "father Time " creates, and doth destroy. 
He saves from ancient days much that we now enjoy, 
Behold the compass. — wonder of mankind, — 
By which we guide our ships, with favoring wind. 
O'er trackless oceans, to their destined place, 
And, richly laden, safe their course retrace, 
The inventor's country, name, or time of birth, 
Are lost to those who people, now, the earth. 
Twenty-six hundred, thirty and four years 
Before the birth of Christ, as it appears 
By Chinese records, was the magnet found 
In Eastern nations' vessels, voyaging ? round. 
A Chinese origin does printing claim ; 
Gunpowder's source is said to be the same. 
Great Archimedes, history does aver, 
Left for the world the great hydrometer. 
Alexandria, two eighty- three B. C, 
The earliest light-house had, so all agree. 
Thermometer's invention still must fee 
Enveloped closely in obscurity. 



26 PROGRESS. 

So too 't is said the microscopic power 

Invented was in unrecorded hour; 

And clocks, that mark the measurement of time. 

Tick no inventor's name in prose or rhyme. 

"Bout sixteen twenty-eight, so we infer, 

Torricelli made the first Barometer. 

By chance, a Dutchman (whose spectacles, I hope. 

Are nos(e)ing 'round) designed the Telescope : 

So it is thought; yet doubtful is the same, 

And hence we have, as yet, no date or name. 

In vain the learned antiquarian seeks 

To find th' inventor 'mong the ancient Greeks. 

Jerusalem and Carthage streets were paved, 

And thus, as now, the wear of surface saved. 

In ancient nights, long centuries ago, 

Antioch and Rome their lighted streets did show. 

The ancient Greeks with bellows •" raised the wind, 77 

Which Otho's coffers now would like to find. 

And Pliny, who of fire-engines wrote, 

'Bout coaches (carrucea) leaves a note, 

And says that hand-saivs, of Daedalus' make, 

Were first suggested by the jaw of snake. 

With speaking-trumpets such as firemen use, 

The early Grecians did themselves amuse. 

In Aristotle's time, as we do read, 

A diving-bell was used in time of need. 



PROGRESS. 27 

On ancient ruins men with wonder gaze, 

Which, if the structures stood, would now amaze. 

Of arts and learning, Egypt knew the worth 

Ere Greece and Italy had had their birth. 

Cadmus, writing-master was to Greece: 

He taught her letters — they, the arts of peace. 

Who built the Pyramids, and who great Thebes ? 

Who set her hundred gates upon her glebes) 

Who formed the Sphinx? who Memnon's statue nude ? 

Who Pompey"s pillar placed on rock bed hewed ? 

Who Mseris Reservoir? who Mummy-Pits, 

And other marvels, o'er which memory flits? — 

From "Pits" like these, our solemn thoughts are led 

To " Forest Hills," our " garden of the dead." 

Thus might we enlarge, from history's pages. 

On the wonders of the early ages ; 

Not the ' : dark ages," of which we read to-day. 

When learning had but monks for protege, 

Who knew but little, and that little used 

With superstition, and their trust abused: — 

But early times, when men with vigor brought 

To useful application every thought. 

To pass now their inventions in review, 

We 'd think King Solomon's remarks were true. 

We view with marvel the last fifty years, 
Or e'en a hundred, — for to us appears, 



28 



PROGRESS, 



That time progressive doth the past excel, — 
And wonder if the next will do as well. 
Can it be true that all that 's known to-day 
Was also known in ages passed away? 
That all was practised in time's early morn, 
But dormant was, ere Romulus was born, 
Whose ancient empire, fourth in time was known, 
Assyria first, then Persia, Greece and Rome 2 
We cannot think so : were it even true, 
We r ve had to reinvent, construct anew. 

The present age has great facilities 

In art and science, luxuries and ease. 

The use and power of steam in grandeur stand 

Ahead of fabled tales of fairy land : 

{I say the use. because the ancients knew, 

B. C. one twenty, of its power, too ;) — 

Give railway cars and steamers life and soul, 

A thousand useful schemes subserve with coal. 

The beauteous gas-lights turn the night to day, 

And telegraphs drive time and space away. 

Daguerre, we bless thy art and skill the more 

We have life's tokens of those "gone before." 

If Christians learned of medicines from Moors, 

Tell them we \ve Homeopathy for cures ; 

Tell them, when .next they go to war with Spain, 

" Colt's pistols " itake, and " Minis " guns obtain ; 



PROGRESS. 29 

And when the battle's o'er, their passions quell 

With organ's or piano's music spell ; 

Machines for sewing, to repair their clothes, 

Balloons, to view from upper air their foes. 

O,. India rubber ! who shall sing thy praise ] 

Goodyear has made a mark, yon can't erase. 

Harvey's discovery of the course of blood, 

And vaccination, now are understood. 

O, blissful day, of surgical reform, 

That ether brought to light, and chloroform ! 

Two hundred years ago, u King Cotton " came : — 

One half that time has known of Arkwright's fame 

Anon will add to Massachusetts' pride 

The " Cotton Flax," "King Cotton's'' queenly bride; 

And thus ten thousand things our notice claim 

Which now I have not time, in verse, to name. 

Behold, the breaking light in Eastern skies 
Proclaims progression's sun is on the rise, 
Where kings despotic o'er man's social sphere 
And rights political, fast disappear, 
Their places yielding to more liberal views, 
Policies and minds, to equal rights diffuse. 
We hail with pleasure, the auspicious dawn 
Of constitutions — liberties new-born; 
And trust for progress in the people's might 
Themselves to govern in their innate right. 



30 PROGRESS. 

Where cruel Bomba held bis wicked sway, 
The people conquered all but Gaeta. 
Dislodged from thence the tyrant soon will be, 
And, like the exiled Dukes, compelled to flee. 
I would that Francis Joseph could pursue 
The self-same route, and at the same time too. 
Czar Autocratic ! 'round thy mighty throne 
Thou the first seeds of liberty hast sown. 
The soil is frigid where this germ appears, 
Yet liberated serfs drop freedom's tears, 
So warm and grateful, that sweet freedom's tree 
May soon spread branches o'er brave Poland free. 
Beats high and quick with hope each humane heart, 
That " Poles " may soon act o'er a nation's part. 
Imperial France, great in art, war and dress, 
Makes progress in the liberty of Press. 
Her passport system — relict of the past — 
To first abolish, she takes steps at last. 
Napoleon third ! we trust you will increase 
Your country's fame, prosperity and peace. 
Your aid material in Sardinia's cause, 
Must comfort give you, and the world's applause. 
Japan and China! hitherto sealed books, 
The world is Pe(e)kin' in to see their looks. 
Loved Italy ! so long to history known, 
What nation has so many changes shown ? 
Our prayers are for thy progress — happiness, 
That God may all thy glorious country bless. 



PROGRESS. 31 

Two purest patriots called thee u father-land/ 7 
Who in thy heart like Washington should stand. — 
Brave Cincinnatus, crowned with early bays. 
And Garibaldi, great in modern days. 

For our own homes, our native land, we yearn, 

And anxious eyes and hearts towards it turn. 

Shall this republic, which our fathers made 

By blood and suffering, toil and treasure paid, — 

Shall this great country, their most loved bequest 

To Northern, Southern sons, to East and West, 

Which they well founded, and with laws they deemed 

The best for man, on which the sun e'er beamed : — 

Shall those great rights, by kindred sections earned, 

When freemen's hearts with equal vigor burned, — 

Shall all these fail, and freedom's hope be o'er, — 

And we her heritage transmit no more? 

Shall this bright star, which shines for Europe's host. 

Inviting here, when freedom there is lost, 

But struggling yet, their hope, their guiding star, 

Shall all be lost, in fratricidal war? 

Shall our great Union, this great fabric, be 

Dissolved in blood, or lose its unity, — 

Split up and shaped to petty governments, 

And be the prey of wrangling discontents? 

We cannot think so : yet in meekness pray, 

Father, thy children, spare the fatal day ! 



32 PROGRESS. 

Teach us in love and unity to dwell, 
Teach all, O, teach, to love each other well ! 
Teach all to quell their passions' stern behest, 
Both South and North, and at the East and West: 
To bide Thy will, to wait the coming time, 
When all shall freedom know, in every clime ; 
When man shall feel no stronger sway or tie, 
Than Thee, a conscience, laws and family : 
Help all to keep their conscience pure, to make 
Their laws of justice and of love partake. 
So shall true progress still pursue its way, — 
Excelsior its motto day by day. 



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